Apparatus for filling cartons



Jan. 9, 1923. 1,441,414.

R. w. GEARHART.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CARTONS.

l `FILED OCT. 5| I92I- A 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Jan. 9, 1923. 1,441,414. R. W. GFARHART.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CARTONS.

FILED OCT. 5, 1921. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

f fa' 8 I mvg/WOK Patented Jan. 9, 1923.

RALPH w. GEARHART, or ioHNs'roWN, PENNSYLVANIA. Y 1* APPARATUS FOR FILLING oAR'roNs.

Application ledOctober 5, 1921. Serial No.'505,463.

or containers are placed in turn under the spout of a freezer and the cartons filled with the semi-liquid product.- The cartons are their placed on atable and the'lids applied; and the cartons are then placed in the refrigerating compartment for the complete solidificationof their contents.

There are a number of important objections to this method, as now practised. Thus, the cartons are repeatedly handled by theemployees. thus becoming soiled and unattractive.A yThe method is slow, thus being` ii'asteful of time and labor. Again, the fitting of the lids on 'the filled cartons fre-v quently results in deiitiug` in or partially colT lapsing. the walls of the carton. kThe semi'- frozen product usuallyoverflows down the exterior wall of the cartons, staining the same. y

The object which I ll'iavein View is the provision of apparatus for use in filling and lidding the cartons, the use of whichv will save time and labor. minimize the handling of the latter and which will enable the lids to be rapidly fitted into place without danger of distorting` the walls of the` cartons.

Generally speaking, my improved appai'atus consists in the'following.

I provide a new and improved filling box in which a plurality of unlidded cartons are placed, and which is pushed along a table, preferably provided with a roller surface, so that the cartonsA are brought in turn-under a funnel member which is placed beneath the spout of the freezer, the arrangement being such that when a carton, or a pairof cartons, is filled the boi;r is moved alongithe table` to spot another carton or pair of cartons under the funnel, the excess product being scraped baci; into the unfilled cartons and prevented from' overflowing down the outside of the'carton. `Wlien the cartons contained in the filling box have y allbeen lfilled,the box is removed and lids applied to the cartons, means being provided for supporting the walls yof the oartons against distortion or collapse while the lids are being fitted in place. AAs lfast yas the boxes whose cartons have been filled` are removedfrom tliehfilling table, vaddif tional boxes loaded with empty cartons rare slid onto the table, the filling operationbeing thus continuous. The lidded cartons are removed', from the ,box andplaced in the refrigerating compartment for the harden,- ing of their contents. l i

I show-a new and improved filling table structure.

'I show a new and improved fillingfunnel y member. f i

I show a new and improved filling and lid'ding box for the cartons. L 1

Other novel features ofconstruction andl arrangement of devices and parts will appear from the following description. n In the accompanying' drawings, wherein isv illustrated a lconvenient embodimentr of the principles of my invention, Fig. l is a side elevation of tlie filling table showing n a filling and liddingbox thereon; Fig. 2 is an end view of the same; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same; Fig.l 4 is an enlarged plan View of one of the filling and lidding boresv with the top lids closed; Fig. y5'is a side' ele? vation of the same; F ig. 6 1s a View similar toFig. 4 with the top `lids removed to show the lower lids or clamping boards. Fig-7 is a reduced section'taken along the line VII-VII in F ig.l 5; Fig. 8 is a similar section with the top lids shown open, andFig. 9

is an enlargedbroken perspective 'showingv the clamping boards.

The following is a detailed kdescription of the drawings.

l A represents the filling tablewhoseframe 4, isrformed by the longitudinal side beams l connected together, preferably'lat their bot-` tom edges by the cross braces 2, andisup- 8. 4 represents a plurality of horizontally disposed rollers having their ends j ournaled inthe side beams llbelow the top edges of 10() ported at a convenient elevationv bythe legs iio are slotted volovcfnwardly fromy .their tops.`as Shown are te receive 1th@ beeteed'esfihs plates 7 attached to the opposite ends of the funnel block or member B which is provided with a downwardly contracting funnel opening S. The funnel opening may be of suflicient size and shape to fill one ormore cartons at one time, as may be desired. I have shown it of proper size to fill two cartons at once. The funnel block is positioned beneathy the spout C of the ice cream freezer, said spout being provided with a suitable hand valve or gate 9. f

Thel lower Jface of the funnel block is horizontal and is recessed around the funnel opening to receive a rubberwiping mat 10 cemented or otherwise secured in place, and

filled and lidded. The top of the box D is provided with'V afpair of lids 15, meeting along the central axis of the box and hinged to the same along their longitudinal edges,

i as at 16. When closed the said lids 15 assume the positions shown in Fig. '7,' and when open in the horizontally extended positions shown in Fig. 8, the edges of the lids bear against the sides of the box, as shown in said Fig'. 8.

The lids 15 are somewhat longer than thel box, their extended 'ends acting as handles for lifting and carrying the boxes when the lids are closed, spring catches 17 attached to the under side of the lids engaging lugs 18 on the ends of the boxes to hold the lids against accidental ope-ning. The lids have their abutting edges recessed as at 19 to form, when the lids are closed, openings through which the upper walls of' the paper cartons extend when placed in the box, 'the tops of the cartons being flush with the tops of the lids when the latter are closed. Thus the depth of the box may be such as to properly'support cartons ot a certain standard size, for instance a quart carton, on the `floor of the box with the top oi" the carton flush with the top ot' .the lid; while in case cartons of less height, say pint cartons, are to be illed, a falsejfloor would be placed on the cleats 14 to raise the top ot the cartons.

flush with t-he lids. n

In the drawings the openings in the top lids, when the latter are closed. are shown as round, the boxillustrated being especially designed for filling round cartons, but it will be understood that the shape of the opening should correspond tothe contour oit the particular cartons to be filled. `When closed the lids 15 lit about the cartons and support the walls of the same.

2O and 21 represent a pair of horizontally disposed clamping plates supported in the box C beneath the lids 15. The ends of said plates rest on horizontal cleats 22 aifixed to the end walls of the box D above the cleats 1st. The saidr plates are normally forced apart by means oi t-he helical springs 23 whose ends are seated in sockets in the abutting edges of the plates. The abutting edges of said plates are provided with recesses 211, which recesses, when the plates are 'forced together, fit snugly about the cartons, clamping them stationary I prefer to knurl or roughen the walls of the recesses 24, as shown in Fig. 9 to more firmly grip the cartons when the plates 2O and 21 are forced together. To properly hold the plates in alinement, I prefer to attach to the ends of the plate 20 the guide members 25 between which the plate 21 will move toward yor away from the plate 20.

' 26 represents pins fixed in the outer lateral edge of the plate 21 and protruding through holes in the side wall of the box D, which pins when the top lidsl are opened up, as shown in Fig. S, are engaged by the `edge of one of the top lids 15 as shown in Fig. 8, thus forcing the plate 21 toward and into contact with the plate 20, as shown in Fig. 8. When the'top lid 15 is raised out of contact with the pins 2G, the springs 23 automatically force the plates apart, as shown in Figs. G, 7 and 9, releasing the cartons;

` Therefore, when the top lids are closed, the clamping plates are separated and the cartons are not clamped between the latter, but when the toplids are fully opened the plates are clamped against the cartons and the latter are held lirmly in position with their walls supported and braced, until the top lid in Contact with the pins 26 is raised out or" contact with said pins. Thus, I provide one or more eccentric buttons 27 pivoted to the outer wallsr of' the box D, which may be turned so as to engage and raise the top lid sufficiently to partially elevate the top lid vand thus permit the clamping plates to separate, thereby enabling the filled and lidded cartons to be lifted out of the filling box and deposited in ther refrigerating compartment.

The operation of my invention is as tollows.

A box D is filled with empty cartons, the lat-ter being inserted down through the openings in the top lids, which are closed. The bottoms of the cartons rest on the permanent or 1'alse tloor of Athe box D according to the height oi? the cartons, and the top edges of the cartons being flush withfthe top surface ot the toplids. f

The loaded box is then placed on the' roller surface of thc table A and the cartons in turn spotted under the funnel member B.

Inthe illustration the funnel opening is of proper size and contour to'include two f ad-` jacent cartons in asingle filling operation. The valve of the freezer spout 1s now opened `and the semi-solid product flowsv down` throughthe funnel opening 8; When the spotted cartons are filled, the ybox D is pushed along to spot the y'next two cartonsin the filling position, the rubber mat 10 wiping over the top surface of the moving boxk and forcing'all excess product. into .the carton topl lids are now opened, thus forcing the *f 'of said .cartons extend substantially flush p plates 20 and 21 together, the lfilled cartons being now exposed to view but clamped be tween'the plat-es 20 and 21 which engage the cartons a suiiicientdistance below their tops to permit the carton lids to .bev quickly applied, the support furnished-'by the clamping L platesy preventing the' rapidl iapplication of the lids frombeing accompanied by the distortion or crushing of the wallsfof the cartons.

yplates 2O 4and 21 to` spring 'apart 'thus re;

leasing the now lidded cartons so that they maybe liftedout 4of the box DI and placed in'the refrigerating compartment.- The top lidsof the box A are again shut, the button 2 reversed and the 'box isready to be re-' loaded with a fresh supply of empty cartons. By feeding oney box' afteranother along the table A," the end ofthe second box abutting against that of the box ahead, the filling "operation may be made continuo-us and the the next-empty carton spotted inthe filling position. y y

It is quite evident that by my method the product may be dischargedin a continuous iow from the freezer, and the fillingoflthe cartons is very much speeded up. cartons, moreover, are not soiled or crushed in the filling operation.

As it isa popular custom to rserve ice cream and other fro-zen food products in small individual paper cartons, it is highly important to prevent the same becoming soiled, stained or distorted, and therefore the use of my invention is very advantageous under these circumstances.

Although, for the sake of illustration, I have shown the filling boxes adapted for operating with roundr cartons, it is perfectly' evident that by altering the contour of the lsaid cartons may by sliding said box along support, a fillingbox adaptedy to be yslidI` The apertures in the top lidsandy clamping plates, any character of carton may be used. Thus fancy shaped boxes may be used with equal facility. 1

Althoughfor they sake of clearness of il-A lustration, I have described in detail the embodiment lof the principles of my inven-y tion' shown in the drawings, I do not wish to limit myself thereby, but claim broadly-.-

l. Inmechanism. for filling cartons with ice-cream or other products, the combina-v f tion of a support, aifeeding funnel above'said support, affillingbox adapted to be slid alongy saidsupport and to contain' the cartons to be filled, anda closurefor the top of said box, said closure being provided with suitablyshaped openings into which the top 1 wthzthe topsurface of said closure whereby said supportbe spotted for filling under said funnel, and vsaid top closure beingin sliding Contact *with the bottom of said funnel whereby the excess .product fed -to `a carton will be rscraped'off and deposited in the suc- 9o ceedingcartonsby the movement of said box.l

2. Infmechanism for filling cartons with ice-cream or other products,fthe combination of afsupport, a feeding `funnelabove said along said supportv yand to contain ,thel cartons to be filled, a top -closure'for said boxy comprising a pair .of 'coacting hinged lids, the adjacent edges of said lids being aper. tured .tol rprovide properly shaped 4openings into which the tops of said' cartons extend to substantially flush with the top surface of said lids whereby said cartons may by slid, ing` said box alongsaid support be spotted for filling under said funnel, and said lids being in sliding contact with the bottom!` of said funnel wherebyV the excess product fed toa carton will be scraped off and deposited in the succeeding cartons by themovement of. said box. f 11.0

In mechanism fory filling cartons with ice-cream or other products,` the combination lof'a 'filling box :in-which said cartons are placed, a closure for the top of said box, said closurebeing .provided withsuitably shaped v openings' into which thefupper portions of the cartonsfextend, and means within said box`l andadapted to clamp about saidy cartons to hold Athe samestationary for the application of the lids of the individual cartons when said closure is opened.

t. In mechanism for lling `cartons with ice-cream or other'products, the combination of a filling box in which said cartons; are placed, a pair of coactin'g top lids for said 125 box, the adjacent edges of said lids being apertured to provide properly shaped openings into which the upper portions of the cartons extend, and means, operative when said lids are opened, adapted to clamp about said cartons to hold the same stationary and support the latter for the application ot the lids ot the individual cartons.

5. In mechanism for iilling cartons'ivith.

icecream or other products, the combination ot' a filling box in which the cartons are placed, a top .closure for said box, said closure being provided with properly shaped openingsinto which the upper portions of the cartons extend, and means Within said box, normally retracted, but adapted when said closure is opened, to clamp about said cartons to support the latter forI the application of the .lids of the 'individual cartons.

G. In mechanism for iilling lcartons with ice-cream or other products, the combination,

of a filling box in which the cartonsare placed, a top closure for said box, saidfclo-y sure being provided with properly shaped openings into which the upper portions of said'cartons extend, and a pair of clamping lplates beloiv said closure and having their' abutting edges recessed to torni openings through Which said cartons extend, means whereby said plates 'are normally separated to permit the insertion of saidr cartons into the box, and means whereby said plates are forced together to grip said cartons whenv the closure is removed to permit the application of the lids of the individual cartons.. 4

7. In mechanism for filling cartons with ice-cream or other products, the combination of a filling box in Which the cartons are placed, a pair of coacting top lids for, said;

box, said top lids having their abutting edges recessed to 'form Aproperly shaped openings into which the upper portions ot said cartons extend, a pair of clamping plates mounted in` said box below said top. lids, the abutting edges oi said plates being` recessed to form openings through which the cartons extend,

said plates being normally separated to permit the free insertion .of the cartons into said box, and means whereby when said top lids are extended into their opened position said plates are forced together thereby clamping about said cartons to support the latter for the application of the lids of the individual cartons. f 8. In ,mechanism for iilling kcartons With ice-cream or other products, the combination with table having a horizontally .disposed top, a funnel member supportedA above said t'able'andy provided with a vertically disposed funnel openiiiginto which theproduct is discharged, and a filling yboxin Which the cartons are, placed, 'said filling box being provided With aclosure having `properly shaped 'openings :into ivhichthe upper portions of the cartons extend tosubstantially flush with the top surface" of said closure, said box being-intended to beslid along said table to spot said cartons inturnunder said funnel opening, the topA surfaceot said closure being in sliding contactivith the bottom of said funnel.v I ,i I

9. In mechanism for filling cartons With ice-cream or otherlproducts, the combination with a table'havinga horizontally disposed top, a funnel member supported above said table jaiid provided ivith a vertically disuct is discharged, and aiillingbox rin Which the cartons are placed, said filling box being provided; 4with ,a closure having properly shaped ,openings into lwhichl the upper portions ot the cartons extend, said boxbeing iiitendedto ybe slid along said table tosporl said cartons in turn under saidfunnel opening, the top surface of said box being in sliding Contact with the bottom surface of said icuiinelmember so that the surplus product yposed'fuifinel opening into which the prodl fed to one carton Will be swept by the movef ment oi said box into the-next empty carton.

10. In mechanism for filling cartons with ice-cream or otherproducts, the combination with a-,table having a horizontally disposed top, a funnel member supportedy above said` funnel openingiinto which the product is discharged, anda filling boxin which the cartons are placed, said filling box being provided With a closure .having properly shaped Pa., this 30th day table and provided with a vertically disposed 

